Radio

PG

Released Oct 24, 2003

1 hr. 49 min.

Drama

List

35%

122 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In a racially divided town, coach Jones (Ed Harris) spots a mentally disabled African-American student named Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.) near his practice field and is inspired to befriend him. Soon, Radio is Jones' loyal assistant, and principal Daniels (Alfre Woodard) happily notes that Radio's self-confidence is skyrocketing. But things start to sour when Jones begins taking guff from fans who feel that his devotion to Radio is getting in the way of the team's quest for a championship.

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Critics Consensus

The story is heavy on syrupy uplift and turns Radio into a saint/cuddly pet.

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Dumont W

Had a teammate in college we called radio... thanks to his haircut you bingo. I do think Cuba was AF for what it's worth.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/21/24

Full Review

Kyle E

Great movie. Based on a true story and well acted.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Blu B

You know coach is asked multiple times why he's doing this and says "I don't know really" well that shows. While it isn't as over the top and "Oscar Baitish" as Patch Adams, this struggles more telling a cohesive story especially in the middle where it really drags at points. Harris is decent and probably the best thing in this, but his character isn't that interesting and he's arguably more the main focus than anyone else. He doesn't really have any flaws or learn much compared to say Hoosiers. There isn't anything really broken about it as it's pretty fundamentally ok. It's main problems boil down to there isn't much here for a 100 minute story to fill. It feels like once the football season ends, stuff just happens and it makes you feel sorry for Radio every time, and it really starts to drag repeating the same points. Second, the fact the coach is the main focus rather than Radio doesn't work hat well mainly because of coach being uninteresting. Finally, while it's a cool true story it feels like this is something better suited for a 5 minute news report rather than a film. There just doesn't feel like there is much here especially the "conflict" with the one dude reporting Radio. It feels more manufactured than authentic. Also, everyone else pretty much just blends in, in this especially any kids on the teams. It feels like this is trying to be a biopic drama and a sports movie and never really makes the two work together well. It's slow and sappy but if your a die hard fan of any actors in this it might be wroth checking it out. I can't really recommend it for sports fans because the sports are secondary here.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/29/23

Full Review

RICARDO A

A Very Underrated Masterpiece, and you need to give it another chance and give it another watch, Cuba Gooding Jr. Would have Deserved an Oscar Nomination for this, his performance was Oscar Worthy Since his Performance as Rod Tidwell from Jerry Maguire!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

Ray G

Great story told about a family/community who support someone who is less fortunate that others. Feel good movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/02/23

Full Review

Sukie M

Based in a true story, we need this reminder of the importance and value of kindness now more than ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/23/23

Full Review

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Michael Tollin

Director

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Radio

Ed Harris

Harold Jones

Alfre Woodard

Principal Daniels

S. Epatha Merkerson

Maggie

Brent Sexton

Honeycutt

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David Germain

Associated Press

Gooding and Harris' characters are too pure and high-minded to exist in the real world. Yet the small-town sense of community and compassion they evoke is so goodhearted, the movie manages an amiable, if fleeting, rise in spirits.

Nov 12, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Lesson of kindness permeates inspiring true story.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

May 14, 2004

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

It's a film that has good intentions, [but] it's just unable to deliver, mainly because Gooding is never believable.

Nov 15, 2019

Full Review

Kaleem Aftab

The List

This is a case of cinema killing the radio star.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 18, 2019

Full Review

Joel Siegel

Good Morning America

Leave it to Hollywood to make a movie called Radio that would play better on TV.

Rated: C+

Jan 5, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

In a racially divided town, coach Jones (Ed Harris) spots a mentally disabled African-American student named Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.) near his practice field and is inspired to befriend him. Soon, Radio is Jones' loyal assistant, and principal Daniels (Alfre Woodard) happily notes that Radio's self-confidence is skyrocketing. But things start to sour when Jones begins taking guff from fans who feel that his devotion to Radio is getting in the way of the team's quest for a championship.

Director: Michael Tollin
Executive Producer: Todd Garner, Caitlin Scanlon
Screenwriter: Mike Rich
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Revolution Studios
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Mild Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 24, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 25, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.3M
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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